Benefits of Power Washing

A homeowner or business should power wash their structures annually or as soon as they notice grime or mildew on the exterior surfaces. Homes take a year-round beating from ultraviolet rays, dust, dirt, algae, mold, insects, and a host of other harmful contaminants. This causes buildup on siding, embedded stains in driveways, and black streaks to form on roofs. It also helps to preserve the life of paint, as well as other materials used on the outside of the house. Pressure washing revitalizes surfaces in a business by cleaning and removing pollutants such as oils, mold, graffiti, and rust, thus making your building appear years younger.

What Does Power Washing Entail?

Power washing includes cleaning the exterior of your home or business with high-pressure water and some chemicals. It can remove dirt from your siding and improve its curb appeal. In spite of its deep roots in physics, pressure washing is fairly straightforward. A water pump accelerates water creating a high-pressure stream. The water is then directed through a hose and out a spray wand. Users can tackle different levels of cleaning tasks by adjusting the pressure and changing the nozzle. Power washing is also good for those with respiratory illnesses, as it removes most of the mildew and pollen from your siding.

How Often You Should Power Wash Your Exterior

It’s important to remember that power washing uses strong force on the exterior of homes and buildings. Taking into account the integrity of your siding and maintaining any paintwork, keep the following factors in mind:

Siding material: Power wash wood when needed or annually using less force. Vinyl, cement, or metal siding can be power-washed annually, but be cautious not to crack, chip, or dent these materials during the power wash.

Adjacent exterior structures: Be mindful of any structures on your exterior walls that could be affected by frequent power washing. Cover wooden plant support structures on your walls when you power wash your vinyl or metal siding once a year.
Time of year: Ideally, try to power wash your home or business annually whenever the temperature is not too cold or too hot. Mild weather provides ideal conditions for power washing.

Can You Pressure Wash A Building’s Facade?

The type of material being pressure washed, the level of pressure, and the nozzle all factor into whether or not you can pressure wash your facade. The pressure or water flow is measured by pounds per square inch (PSI) or gallons per minute (GPM). To better understand this, let’s take a look at the three levels of pressure washers.

Light-duty pressure washers – up to 1900 PSI (2 GPM) and are designed for residential requirements.
Heavy-duty pressure washers – top out at 2800 PSI (3 GPM) and can tackle most commercial requirements.
Industrial pressure washers – max out around 7000 PSI (5 GPM) and are more efficient at taking on the toughest tasks.

To put that in perspective, an automatic car wash operates at 1,000 – 1,200 PSI, while a pressure washer up to 7000 PSI can remove graffiti and paint and cut through wood. However, the answer is “Yes”, you can pressure wash your facade if you do it correctly.

You must also factor in the materials you are pressure washing, as using the wrong combination of pressure and nozzle can damage them or produce poor results. Companies providing professional pressure washing services often have specialized equipment to transport pressure washing equipment to hard-to-reach spaces or where water is inaccessible.

Power Washing Saves You Money in the Long Run

Untreated contaminants damage your home over time. Replacing your siding, shingles, or concrete costs significantly more than having these areas regularly cleaned. Power washing helps you avoid prematurely replacing parts of your home or business, thus saving you money in the long run. The National Association of Realtors suggests that a power-washed home or business can add up to $15,000 to the sale price. You simply cannot afford to not power wash your home or business.

Power Washing Helps Prepare for Other Projects

Have you ever painted over a dirty wall? Paint adheres best to clean surfaces and will crack or chip if rolled over dirt and grime. If you are painting the exterior of your home, the first step is to ensure that you have the exterior surface cleaned so the paint will go on smoothly and last much longer.

Power Washing Leads to a Healthier Home or Business

Airborne contaminants that end up on your structure can be harmful. For example, mold spores can lead to asthma-like symptoms when inhaled. Power washing gets rid of mold, algae, and other contaminants, never giving them a chance to grow.